Group tour

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Group travel (or company travel ) is a travel in tourism in which a larger number of travelers take part as a closed group . The opposite is the individual journey .

General

In a group trip , several people come together to achieve the common goal of a specific trip. In tourism, group travel is a form of travel such as educational travel , youth exchange , school trip , study trip or club trip , which are often organized as group trips. A tourist trip comprises at least one overnight stay and at least two coordinated travel services, otherwise it is a group excursion. Even a single travel service such as a train journey is sufficient in everyday life to meet the requirements of a group trip. As a rule, it is a vacation trip, but business trips can also be designed as a group trip (e.g. several executives travel to a negotiation ). The minimum size of the tour group should start with around six people (required for a group ticket for the train), but tour operators usually prescribe a higher minimum number of participants for economic reasons.

species

Group travel has the following common features:

  • uniform travel organization: one tour operator, travel destination, same travel time, accommodation, uniform travel program,
  • uniform travel motivation: travel destination or travel program.

A distinction must be made between the closed travel group , whose participants register for a trip as a single entity, and the open travel group , with which the tour operator books individual interested parties until the minimum number of participants is reached (e.g. for study trips). Round trips in which the participants come together by chance under the guidance of a tour guide are not group trips .

Legal issues

If group trips are concluded with travel agencies or travel agents and they meet the conditions of a package tour , the travel law of § § 651a ff. BGB applies . Tour operators with group trips in their travel catalog go into more detail on the travel group in their general travel conditions . Above all, this includes the minimum number of participants (10–15 people or more), any group discounts or restrictions on the number of participants in accordance with the regulations of the mode of transport or the destination countries. If the minimum number of participants specified in the travel contract is not reached, the tour operator can withdraw from the travel contract in accordance with Section 651h (4) BGB . There are special conditions for guest school stays in § 651u BGB. In the event of travel defects applies § 651i para. 2 BGB. The legal situation is different if private individuals or associations organize group trips in their own name. This leads to private liability of the organizers , which must be covered by liability insurance (organizer liability ). Organizer liability covers damage caused to third parties during an event.

Advantages of a group trip

Probably the most important advantage is the financial one compared to an individual trip. For example, hotels, museums and often sightseeing destinations grant a group rate that is below the price for individual travelers. Some facilities already offer discounts for smaller groups. However, there are no fixed terms of size here either. While museums and attractions often display prices on the Internet, prices for group prices in hotels and restaurants are only available on specific request.

Another advantage is the travel companion who takes on the organization or the tour guide , who also familiarizes you with the country and people and the special features of the travel destination. These companions connect the traveler, the tour operator and the destination of the trip. In addition, there are numerous sights (castles, museums), companies and means of transport (shipping, etc.), which can often only be booked as a group and which are only open to groups. The entire program is also organized. For example, you get off the bus in the city center and you don't have to search for a parking space. Not to be forgotten is the societal aspect of a group tour. You are not traveling alone and you can make new contacts within the group more easily. A travel group is - like every social group - subject to certain group dynamics .

Disadvantages of a group tour

Group trips can usually not take individual interests into account; the individual must submit his own personal goals to the group goal . Time restrictions must therefore be accepted. Since a tight schedule has to be adhered to, there is often not enough time to stay longer in one place. A disadvantage is often that the group in restaurants or in the hotel has to appear all at the same time while dining and, on the other hand, is often forced to sit down with other people at more or less large tables.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Wolfgang Fuchs / Jörn W. Mundt / Hans-Dieter Zollondz (eds.), Lexikon Tourismus , 2008, p. 331
  2. ↑ Wolfgang Fuchs / Jörn W. Mundt / Hans-Dieter Zollondz (eds.), Lexikon Tourismus , 2008, p. 331
  3. ↑ Wolfgang Fuchs / Jörn W. Mundt / Hans-Dieter Zollondz (eds.), Lexikon Tourismus , 2008, p. 332
  4. ↑ Wolfgang Fuchs / Jörn W. Mundt / Hans-Dieter Zollondz (eds.), Lexikon Tourismus , 2008, p. 332
  5. ↑ Harry Rudolph, Tourismus-Betriebswirtschaftslehre , 2002, p. 24
  6. ↑ Oliver Henschel, Lexikon Eventmanagement , 2010, p. 184